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Portugal J, Bedia C, Amato F, Juárez-Facio AT, Stamatiou R, Lazou A, Campiglio CE, Elihn K, Piña B. Toxicity of airborne nanoparticles: Facts and challenges. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108889. [PMID: 39042967 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution is one of the most severe environmental healthhazards, and airborne nanoparticles (diameter <100 nm) are considered particularly hazardous to human health. They are produced by various sources such as internal combustion engines, wood and biomass burning, and fuel and natural gas combustion, and their origin, among other parameters, determines their intrinsic toxicity for reasons that are not yet fully understood. Many constituents of the nanoparticles are considered toxic or at least hazardous, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metal compounds, in addition to gaseous pollutants present in the aerosol fraction, such as NOx, SO2, and ozone. All these compounds can cause oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, inflammation in the lungs and other tissues, and cellular organelles. Epidemiological investigations concluded that airborne pollution may affect the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. Moreover, particulate matter has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer, a carcinogenic effect not related to DNA damage, but to the cellular inflammatory response to the pollutants, in which the release of cytokines promotes the proliferation of pre-existing mutated cancer cells. The mechanisms behind toxicity can be investigated experimentally using cell cultures or animal models. Methods for gathering particulate matter have been explored, but standardized protocols are needed to ensure that the samples accurately represent chemical mixtures in the environment. Toxic constituents of nanoparticles can be studied in animal and cellular models, but designing realistic exposure settings is challenging. The air-liquid interface (ALI) system directly exposes cells, mimicking particle inhalation into the lungs. Continuous research and monitoring of nanoparticles and other airborne pollutants is essential for understanding their effects and developing active strategies to mitigate their risks to human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Portugal
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, CSIC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carmen Bedia
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, CSIC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fulvio Amato
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, CSIC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana T Juárez-Facio
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 11419 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rodopi Stamatiou
- School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antigone Lazou
- School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Chiara E Campiglio
- Department of Management, Information and Production Engineering, University of Bergamo, 24044 Dalmine, BG, Italy
| | - Karine Elihn
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 11419 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Piña
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, CSIC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Durdina L, Durand E, Edebeli J, Spirig C, Brem BT, Elser M, Siegerist F, Johnson M, Sevcenco YA, Crayford AP. Characterizing and Predicting nvPM Size Distributions for Aviation Emission Inventories and Environmental Impact. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10548-10557. [PMID: 38853642 PMCID: PMC11191599 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Concerns about civil aviation's air quality and environmental impacts have led to recent regulations on nonvolatile particulate matter (nvPM) mass and number emissions. Although these regulations do not mandate measuring particle size distribution (PSD), understanding PSDs is vital for assessing the environmental impacts of aviation nvPM. This study introduces a comprehensive data set detailing PSD characteristics of 42 engines across 19 turbofan types, ranging from unregulated small business jets to regulated large commercial aircraft. Emission tests were independently performed by using the European and Swiss reference nvPM sampling and measurement systems with parallel PSD measurements. The geometric mean diameter (GMD) at the engine exit strongly correlated with the nvPM number-to-mass ratio (N/M) and thrust, varying from 7 to 52 nm. The engine-exit geometric standard deviation ranged from 1.7 to 2.5 (mean of 2.05). The study proposes empirical correlations to predict GMD from N/M data of emissions-certified engines. These predictions are expected to be effective for conventional rich-burn engines and might be extended to novel combustor technologies if additional data become available. The findings support the refinement of emission models and help in assessing the aviation non-CO2 climate and air quality impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Durdina
- Centre
for Aviation, ZHAW Zurich University of
Applied Sciences, Winterthur CH-8401, Switzerland
| | - Eliot Durand
- Cardiff
School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Wales CF24 3AA, U.K.
| | - Jacinta Edebeli
- Centre
for Aviation, ZHAW Zurich University of
Applied Sciences, Winterthur CH-8401, Switzerland
| | - Curdin Spirig
- Centre
for Aviation, ZHAW Zurich University of
Applied Sciences, Winterthur CH-8401, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin T. Brem
- Laboratory
for Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer
Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Elser
- Laboratory
for Automotive Powertrain Technologies, Empa, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland
| | | | - Mark Johnson
- Rolls-Royce,Plc, Sin A-37
PO Box 31, Derby DE24 8BJ, U.K.
| | - Yura A. Sevcenco
- Cardiff
School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Wales CF24 3AA, U.K.
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Hoisington AJ, Stearns-Yoder KA, Kovacs EJ, Postolache TT, Brenner LA. Airborne Exposure to Pollutants and Mental Health: A Review with Implications for United States Veterans. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:168-183. [PMID: 38457036 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00437-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Inhalation of airborne pollutants in the natural and built environment is ubiquitous; yet, exposures are different across a lifespan and unique to individuals. Here, we reviewed the connections between mental health outcomes from airborne pollutant exposures, the biological inflammatory mechanisms, and provide future directions for researchers and policy makers. The current state of knowledge is discussed on associations between mental health outcomes and Clean Air Act criteria pollutants, traffic-related air pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals, jet fuel, and burn pits. RECENT FINDINGS Although associations between airborne pollutants and negative physical health outcomes have been a topic of previous investigations, work highlighting associations between exposures and psychological health is only starting to emerge. Research on criteria pollutants and mental health outcomes has the most robust results to date, followed by traffic-related air pollutants, and then pesticides. In contrast, scarce mental health research has been conducted on exposure to heavy metals, jet fuel, and burn pits. Specific cohorts of individuals, such as United States military members and in-turn, Veterans, often have unique histories of exposures, including service-related exposures to aircraft (e.g. jet fuels) and burn pits. Research focused on Veterans and other individuals with an increased likelihood of exposure and higher vulnerability to negative mental health outcomes is needed. Future research will facilitate knowledge aimed at both prevention and intervention to improve physical and mental health among military personnel, Veterans, and other at-risk individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Hoisington
- Veterans Affairs Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMR VAMC), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH, 45333, USA.
| | - Kelly A Stearns-Yoder
- Veterans Affairs Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMR VAMC), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Kovacs
- Department of Surgery, Division of GI, Trauma and Endocrine Surgery, and Burn Research Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Veterans Affairs Research Service, RMR VAMC, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Teodor T Postolache
- Veterans Affairs Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMR VAMC), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 5 MIRECC, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Lisa A Brenner
- Veterans Affairs Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMR VAMC), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry & Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
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Bookstein A, Po J, Tseng C, Larson TV, Yang J, Park SSL, Wu J, Shariff-Marco S, Inamdar PP, Ihenacho U, Setiawan VW, DeRouen MC, Le Marchand L, Stram DO, Samet J, Ritz B, Fruin S, Wu AH, Cheng I. Association between Airport Ultrafine Particles and Lung Cancer Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024; 33:703-711. [PMID: 38372643 PMCID: PMC11062824 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-23-0924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultrafine particles (UFP) are unregulated air pollutants abundant in aviation exhaust. Emerging evidence suggests that UFPs may impact lung health due to their high surface area-to-mass ratio and deep penetration into airways. This study aimed to assess long-term exposure to airport-related UFPs and lung cancer incidence in a multiethnic population in Los Angeles County. METHODS Within the California Multiethnic Cohort, we examined the association between long-term exposure to airport-related UFPs and lung cancer incidence. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the effect of UFP exposure on lung cancer incidence. Subgroup analyses by demographics, histology and smoking status were conducted. RESULTS Airport-related UFP exposure was not associated with lung cancer risk [per one IGR HR, 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.97-1.05] overall and across race/ethnicity. A suggestive positive association was observed between a one IQR increase in UFP exposure and lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) risk (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00-1.17) with a Phet for histology = 0.05. Positive associations were observed in 5-year lag analysis for SCC (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, CI, 1.02-1.22) and large cell carcinoma risk (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01-1.49) with a Phet for histology = 0.01. CONCLUSIONS This large prospective cohort analysis suggests a potential association between airport-related UFP exposure and specific lung histologies. The findings align with research indicating that UFPs found in aviation exhaust may induce inflammatory and oxidative injury leading to SCC. IMPACT These results highlight the potential role of airport-related UFP exposure in the development of lung SCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Bookstein
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Justine Po
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Chiuchen Tseng
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Timothy V. Larson
- Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Juan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Sung-shim L. Park
- Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology), University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Salma Shariff-Marco
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- University of California, San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Pushkar P. Inamdar
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Ugonna Ihenacho
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Veronica W. Setiawan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Mindy C. DeRouen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- University of California, San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Loïc Le Marchand
- Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology), University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI
| | - Daniel O. Stram
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jonathan Samet
- Departments of Epidemiology and of Environmental & Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO
| | - Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Scott Fruin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Anna H. Wu
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Iona Cheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- University of California, San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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5
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Hageman G, van Broekhuizen P, Nihom J. The role of nanoparticles in bleed air in the etiology of Aerotoxic Syndrome: A review of cabin air-quality studies of 2003-2023. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2024; 21:423-438. [PMID: 38593380 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2024.2327348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Aerotoxic Syndrome may develop as a result of chronic, low-level exposure to organophosphates (OPs) and volatile organic compounds in the airplane cabin air, caused by engine oil leaking past wet seals. Additionally, acute high-level exposures, so-called "fume events," may occur. However, air quality monitoring studies concluded that levels of inhaled chemicals might be too low to cause adverse effects. The presence of aerosols of nanoparticles (NPs) in bleed air has often been described. The specific hypothesis is a relation between NPs acting as a vector for toxic compounds in the etiology of the Aerotoxic Syndrome. These NPs function as carriers for toxic engine oil compounds leaking into the cabin air. Inhaled by aircrew NPs carrying soluble and insoluble components deposit in the alveolar region, where they are absorbed into the bloodstream. Subsequently, they may cross the blood-brain barrier and release their toxic compounds in the central nervous system. Olfactory absorption is another route for NPs with access to the brain. To study the hypothesis, all published in-flight measurement studies (2003-2023) of airborne volatile (and low-volatile) organic pollutants in cabin air were reviewed, including NPs (10-100 nm). Twelve studies providing data for a total of 387 flights in 16 different large-passenger jet aircraft types were selected. Maximum particle number concentrations (PNC) varied from 104 to 2.8 × 106 #/cm3 and maximum mass concentrations from 9 to 29 μg/m3. NP-peaks occurred after full-power take-off, in tailwind condition, after auxiliary power unit (APU) bleed air introduction, and after air conditioning pack failure. Chemical characterization of the NPs showed aliphatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, and metallic core particles. An aerosol mass-spectrometry pattern was consistent with aircraft engine oil. It is concluded that chronic exposure of aircrew to NP-aerosols, carrying oil derivatives, maybe a significant feature in the etiology of Aerotoxic Syndrome. Mobile NP measuring equipment should be made available in the cockpit for long-term monitoring of bleed air. Consequently, risk assessment of bleed air should include monitoring and analysis of NPs, studied in a prospective cohort design.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Hageman
- Department of Neurology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Hospital Enschede, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - P van Broekhuizen
- Department of Environmental Studies (IVAM), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J Nihom
- Department of Neurology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Hospital Enschede, Enschede, The Netherlands
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6
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Rodríguez-Maroto JJ, García-Alonso S, Rojas E, Sanz D, Ibarra I, Pérez-Pastor R, Pujadas M, Hormigo D, Sánchez J, Moreno PM, Sánchez M, Kılıc D, Williams PI. Characterization of PAHs bound to ambient ultrafine particles around runways at an international airport. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 352:141440. [PMID: 38368961 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The impact of airport activities on air quality, is not sufficiently documented. In order to better understand the magnitude and properly assess the sources of emissions in the sector, it is necessary to establish databases with real data on those pollutants that could have the greatest impact on both health and the environment. Particulate matter (PM), especially ultrafine particles, are a research priority, not only because of its physical properties, but also because of its ability to bind highly toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Samples of PM were collected in the ambient air around the runways at Barajas International Airport (Madrid, Spain) during October, November and December 2021. Samples were gathered using three different sampling systems and analysed to determine the concentration of PAHs bound to PM. A high-volume air sampler, a Berner low-pressure impactor, and an automated off-line sampler developed in-house were used. The agreement between the samplers was statistically verified from the PM and PAH results. The highest concentration of PM measured was 31 μg m-3, while the concentration of total PAH was 3 ng m-3, both comparable to those recorded in a semi-urban area of Madrid. The PAHs showed a similar profile to the particle size distribution, with a maximum in the 0.27-0.54 μm size range, being preferentially found in the submicron size fractions, with more than 84% and around 15-20% associated to UFPs. It was found that the ratio [PAHs(m)/PM(m)] was around 10-4 in the warmer period (October), whereas it more than doubled in the colder months (November-December). It is significant the shift in the relative distribution of compounds within these two periods, with a notable increase in the 5 and 6 ring proportions in the colder period. This increase was probably due to the additional contribution of other external sources, possibly thermal and related to combustion processes, as supported by the PAH diagnostic ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Rodríguez-Maroto
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - S García-Alonso
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - E Rojas
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - D Sanz
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - I Ibarra
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - R Pérez-Pastor
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - M Pujadas
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - D Hormigo
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Spain
| | - J Sánchez
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Spain
| | - P M Moreno
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Spain
| | - M Sánchez
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Spain
| | - D Kılıc
- DEES and University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - P I Williams
- DEES and University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK; NCAS, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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7
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Carter SA, Rahman MM, Lin JC, Chow T, Yu X, Martinez MP, Levitt P, Chen Z, Chen JC, Eckel SP, Schwartz J, Lurmann FW, Kleeman MJ, McConnell R, Xiang AH. Maternal exposure to aircraft emitted ultrafine particles during pregnancy and likelihood of ASD in children. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108061. [PMID: 37454628 PMCID: PMC10472925 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence for adverse health effects associated with aircraft-emitted particulate matter (PM) exposures, which are largely in the ultrafine (PM0.1) size fraction, but no previous study has examined neurodevelopmental outcomes. OBJECTIVE To assess associations between maternal exposure to aircraft ultrafine particles (UFP) during pregnancy and offspring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. METHODS This large, representative cohort study included 370,723 singletons born in a single healthcare system. Demographic data, maternal health information, and child's ASD diagnosis by age 5 were extracted from electronic medical records. Aircraft exposure estimates for PM0.1 were generated by the University of California Davis/California Institute of Technology Source Oriented Chemical Transport model. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess associations between maternal exposure to aircraft PM0·1 in pregnancy and ASD diagnosis, controlling for covariates. RESULTS Over the course of follow-up, 4,554 children (1.4 %) were diagnosed with ASD. Increased risk of ASD was associated with maternal exposure to aircraft PM0.1 [hazard ratio, HR: 1.02, (95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.03) per IQR = 0.02 µg/m3 increase during pregnancy. Associations were robust to adjustment for total PM0.1 and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), near-roadway air pollution, and other covariates. Noise adjustment modestly attenuated estimates of UFP effects, which remained statistically significant. DISCUSSION The results strengthen the emerging evidence that maternal particulate matter exposure during pregnancy is associated with offspring ASD diagnosis and identify aircraft-derived PM0.1 as novel targets for further study and potential regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Carter
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Md Mostafijur Rahman
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jane C Lin
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Ting Chow
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Xin Yu
- Spatial Science Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mayra P Martinez
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Pat Levitt
- Department of Pediatrics and Program in Developmental Neuroscience and Neurogenetics, Keck School of Medicine, The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zhanghua Chen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jiu-Chiuan Chen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Michael J Kleeman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rob McConnell
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anny H Xiang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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8
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Miko S, Poniatowski AR, Troeschel AN, Felton DJ, Banerji S, Bolduc MLF, Bronstein AC, Cavanaugh AM, Edge C, Gates AL, Jarvis M, Mintz NA, Parasram V, Rayman J, Smith AR, Wagner JC, Gerhardstein BG, Orr MF. Community health impacts after a jet fuel leak contaminated a drinking water system: Oahu, Hawaii, November 2021. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:956-971. [PMID: 37515565 PMCID: wh_2023_109 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2021, a large petroleum leak contaminated a water source that supplied drinking water to military and civilians in Oahu, Hawaii. METHODS We conducted an Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) survey and supplemented that information with complementary data sources: (1) poison center caller records; (2) emergency department visit data; and (3) a key informant questionnaire. RESULTS Among 2,289 survey participants, 86% reported ≥1 new or worsening symptom, 75% of which lasted ≥30 days, and 37% sought medical care. Most (n = 1,653, 72%) reported new mental health symptoms. Among equally observable symptoms across age groups, proportions of children ≤2 years experiencing vomiting, runny nose, skin rashes, and coughing (33, 46, 56, and 35%, respectively) were higher than other age groups. Poison center calls increased the first 2 weeks after the contamination, while emergency department visits increased in early December 2021. Key informant interviews revealed themes of lack of support, mental health symptoms, and long-term health impact concerns. DISCUSSION This event led to widespread exposure to petroleum products and negatively affected thousands of people. Follow-up health surveys or interventions should give special consideration to longer-term physical and mental health, especially children due to their unique sensitivity to environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanna Miko
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA E-mail:
| | - Alex R Poniatowski
- National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of the Director, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alyssa N Troeschel
- National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of the Director, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Michele L F Bolduc
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | | | - Alyson M Cavanaugh
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Charles Edge
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Abigail L Gates
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | | | | | - Vidisha Parasram
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Jamie Rayman
- National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of the Director, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amanda R Smith
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | | | - Benjamin G Gerhardstein
- National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of the Director, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maureen F Orr
- National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of the Director, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Hoang TT, Rosales O, Burgess E, Lupo PJ, Scheurer ME, Oluyomi AO. Clustering of Pediatric Brain Tumors in Texas, 2000-2017. TOXICS 2023; 11:351. [PMID: 37112578 PMCID: PMC10146099 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11040351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Risk factors for pediatric brain tumors are largely unknown. Identifying spatial clusters of these rare tumors on the basis of residential address may provide insights into childhood socio-environmental factors that increase susceptibility. From 2000-2017, the Texas Cancer Registry recorded 4305 primary brain tumors diagnosed among children (≤19 years old). We performed a spatial analysis in SaTScan to identify neighborhoods (census tracts) where the observed number of pediatric brain tumors was higher than expected. Within each census tract, the number of pediatric brain tumors was summed on the basis of residential address at diagnosis. The population estimate from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey of 0- to 19-year-olds was used as the at-risk population. p-values were calculated using Monte Carlo hypothesis testing. The age-standardized rate was 54.3 per 1,000,000. SaTScan identified twenty clusters, of which two were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Some of the clusters identified in Texas spatially implicated potential sources of environmental risk factors (e.g., proximity to petroleum production processes) to explore in future research. This work provides hypothesis-generating data for further investigations of spatially relevant risk factors of pediatric brain tumors in Texas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh T. Hoang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.T.H.); (P.J.L.); (M.E.S.)
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Cancer and Hematology Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Omar Rosales
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Sciences Section, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (O.R.); (E.B.)
| | - Elyse Burgess
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Sciences Section, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (O.R.); (E.B.)
| | - Philip J. Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.T.H.); (P.J.L.); (M.E.S.)
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Cancer and Hematology Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael E. Scheurer
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.T.H.); (P.J.L.); (M.E.S.)
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Cancer and Hematology Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Abiodun O. Oluyomi
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Sciences Section, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (O.R.); (E.B.)
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10
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Eriksen Hammer S, Daae HL, Kåsin K, Helmersmo K, Simensen V, Skaugset NP, Hassel E, Zardin E. Chemical characterization of combustion engine exhaust and assessment of helicopter deck operator occupational exposures on an offshore frigate class ship. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2023; 20:170-182. [PMID: 36787211 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2180150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Diesel engine exhaust (DE) consists of a complex mixture of gases and aerosols, originating from sources such as engines, turbines, and power generators. It is composed of a wide range of toxic compounds ranging from constituents that are irritating to those that are carcinogenic. The purposes of this work were to characterize DE originating from different engine types on a ship operating offshore and to quantify the potential exposure of workers on the ship's helicopter deck to select DE compounds. Sampling was conducted on a Norwegian Nansen-class frigate that included helicopter operations. Frigate engines and generators were fueled by marine diesel oil, while the helicopter engine was fueled by high flash point kerosene-type aviation fuel. Exhaust samples were collected directly from the stack of the diesel engine and one of the diesel generator exhaust stacks, inside a gas turbine exhaust stack, and at the exhaust outlet of the helicopter. To characterize the different exhaust sources, non-targeted screening of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds was performed for multiple chemical classes. Some of the compounds detected at the sources are known irritants, such as phthalic anhydride, 2,5-dyphenyl-p-benzoquinone, styrene, cinnoline, and phenyl maleic anhydride. The exhaust from the diesel engine and diesel generator was found to contain the highest amounts of particulate matter and gaseous compounds, while the gas turbine had the lowest emissions. Personal exposure samples were collected outdoors in the breathing zone of a helicopter deck operator over nine working shifts, simultaneously with stationary measurements on the helicopter deck. Elemental carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and several volatile organic compounds are known to be present in DE, such as formaldehyde, acrolein, and phenol were specifically targeted. Measured DE exposures of the crew on the helicopter deck were variable, but less than the current European occupational exposure limits for all compounds, except elemental carbon, in which concentration varied between 0.5 and 37 µg/m3 over nine work shifts. These findings are among the first published for this type of working environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Erlend Hassel
- Norwegian Armed Forces Occupational Health Service, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Occupational Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Erika Zardin
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
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11
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Delaval MN, Jonsdottir HR, Leni Z, Keller A, Brem BT, Siegerist F, Schönenberger D, Durdina L, Elser M, Salathe M, Baumlin N, Lobo P, Burtscher H, Liati A, Geiser M. Responses of reconstituted human bronchial epithelia from normal and health-compromised donors to non-volatile particulate matter emissions from an aircraft turbofan engine. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 307:119521. [PMID: 35623573 PMCID: PMC10024864 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Health effects of particulate matter (PM) from aircraft engines have not been adequately studied since controlled laboratory studies reflecting realistic conditions regarding aerosols, target tissue, particle exposure and deposited particle dose are logistically challenging. Due to the important contributions of aircraft engine emissions to air pollution, we employed a unique experimental setup to deposit exhaust particles directly from an aircraft engine onto reconstituted human bronchial epithelia (HBE) at air-liquid interface under conditions similar to in vivo airways to mimic realistic human exposure. The toxicity of non-volatile PM (nvPM) from a CFM56-7B26 aircraft engine was evaluated under realistic engine conditions by sampling and exposing HBE derived from donors of normal and compromised health status to exhaust for 1 h followed by biomarker analysis 24 h post exposure. Particle deposition varied depending on the engine thrust levels with 85% thrust producing the highest nvPM mass and number emissions with estimated surface deposition of 3.17 × 109 particles cm-2 or 337.1 ng cm-2. Transient increase in cytotoxicity was observed after exposure to nvPM in epithelia derived from a normal donor as well as a decrease in the secretion of interleukin 6 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1. Non-replicated multiple exposures of epithelia derived from a normal donor to nvPM primarily led to a pro-inflammatory response, while both cytotoxicity and oxidative stress induction remained unaffected. This raises concerns for the long-term implications of aircraft nvPM for human pulmonary health, especially in occupational settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zaira Leni
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alejandro Keller
- Institute for Sensors and Electronics, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin T Brem
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | | | - David Schönenberger
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Durdina
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Elser
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Automotive Powertrain Technologies Laboratory, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Salathe
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Nathalie Baumlin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Prem Lobo
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Heinz Burtscher
- Institute for Sensors and Electronics, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Anthi Liati
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Automotive Powertrain Technologies Laboratory, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Marianne Geiser
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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Rangel-Alvarado R, Pal D, Ariya P. PM 2.5 decadal data in cold vs. mild climate airports: COVID-19 era and a call for sustainable air quality policy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:58133-58148. [PMID: 35364791 PMCID: PMC8975444 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Airports are identified hotspots for air pollution, notably for fine particles (PM2.5) that are pivotal in aerosol-cloud interaction processes of climate change and human health. We herein studied the field observation and statistical analysis of 10-year data of PM2.5 and selected emitted co-pollutants (CO, NOx, and O3), in the vicinity of three major Canadian airports, with moderate to cold climates. The decadal data analysis indicated that in colder climate airports, pollutants like PM2.5 and CO accumulate disproportionally to their emissions in fall and winter, in comparison to airports in milder climates. Decadal daily averages and standard errors of PM2.5 concentrations were as follows: Vancouver, 5.31 ± 0.017; Toronto, 6.71 ± 0.199; and Montreal, 7.52 ± 0.023 μg/m3. The smallest and the coldest airport with the least flights/passengers had the highest PM2.5 concentration. QQQ-ICP-MS/MS and HR-S/TEM analysis of aerosols near Montreal Airport indicated a wide range of emerging contaminants (Cd, Mo, Co, As, Ni, Cr, and Pb) ranging from 0.90 to 622 μg/L, which were also observed in the atmosphere. During the lockdown, a pronounced decrease in the concentrations of PM2.5 and submicron particles, including nanoparticles, in residential areas close to airports was observed, conforming with the recommended workplace health thresholds (~ 2 × 104 cm-3), while before the lockdown, condensable particles were up to ~ 1 × 105 cm-3. Targeted reduction of PM2.5 emission is recommended for cold climate regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Devendra Pal
- Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada
| | - Parisa Ariya
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada.
- Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada.
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13
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Troeschel AN, Gerhardstein B, Poniatowski A, Felton D, Smith A, Surasi K, Cavanaugh AM, Miko S, Bolduc M, Parasram V, Edge C, Funk R, Orr M. Notes from the Field: Self-Reported Health Symptoms Following Petroleum Contamination of a Drinking Water System — Oahu, Hawaii, November 2021–February 2022. MMWR. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2022; 71:718-719. [PMID: 35617135 PMCID: PMC9153463 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7121a4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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14
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Cardiovascular Mortality and Leaded Aviation Fuel: Evidence from Piston-Engine Air Traffic in North Carolina. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105941. [PMID: 35627477 PMCID: PMC9140422 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Leaded fuel used by piston-engine aircraft is the largest source of airborne lead emissions in the United States. Previous studies have found higher blood lead levels in children living near airports where leaded aviation fuel is used. However, little is known about the health effects on adults. This study is the first to examine the association between exposure to aircraft operations that use leaded aviation fuel and adult cardiovascular mortality. We estimated the association between annual piston-engine air traffic and cardiovascular mortality among adults age 65 and older near 40 North Carolina airports during 2000 to 2017. We used several strategies to minimize the potential for bias due to omitted variables and confounding from other health hazards at airports, including coarsened exact matching, location-specific intercepts, and adjustment for jet-engine and other air traffic that does not use leaded fuel. Our findings are mixed but suggestive of adverse effects. We found higher rates of cardiovascular mortality within a few kilometers downwind of single- and multi-runway airports, though these results are not always statistically significant. We also found significantly higher cardiovascular mortality rates within a few kilometers and downwind of single-runway airports in years with more piston-engine air traffic. We did not consistently find a statistically significant association between cardiovascular mortality rates and piston-engine air traffic near multi-runway airports, where there was greater uncertainty in our measure of the distance between populations and aviation exposures. These results suggest that (i) reducing lead emissions from aviation could yield health benefits for adults, and (ii) more refined data are needed to obtain more precise estimates of these benefits. Subject Areas: Toxic Substances, Health, Epidemiology, Air Pollution, Ambient Air Quality. JEL codes: Q53, I18.
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15
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Haley RW, Kramer G, Xiao J, Dever JA, Teiber JF. Evaluation of a Gene-Environment Interaction of PON1 and Low-Level Nerve Agent Exposure with Gulf War Illness: A Prevalence Case-Control Study Drawn from the U.S. Military Health Survey's National Population Sample. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:57001. [PMID: 35543525 PMCID: PMC9093163 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consensus on the etiology of 1991 Gulf War illness (GWI) has been limited by lack of objective individual-level environmental exposure information and assumed recall bias. OBJECTIVES We investigated a prestated hypothesis of the association of GWI with a gene-environment (GxE) interaction of the paraoxonase-1 (PON1) Q192R polymorphism and low-level nerve agent exposure. METHODS A prevalence sample of 508 GWI cases and 508 nonpaired controls was drawn from the 8,020 participants in the U.S. Military Health Survey, a representative sample survey of military veterans who served during the Gulf War. The PON1 Q192R genotype was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the serum Q and R isoenzyme activity levels were measured with PON1-specific substrates. Low-level nerve agent exposure was estimated by survey questions on having heard nerve agent alarms during deployment. RESULTS The GxE interaction of the Q192R genotype and hearing alarms was strongly associated with GWI on both the multiplicative [prevalence odds ratio (POR) of the interaction=3.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20, 9.72] and additive (synergy index=4.71; 95% CI: 1.82, 12.19) scales, adjusted for measured confounders. The Q192R genotype and the alarms variable were independent (adjusted POR in the controls=1.18; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.73; p=0.35), and the associations of GWI with the number of R alleles and quartiles of Q isoenzyme were monotonic. The adjusted relative excess risk due to interaction (aRERI) was 7.69 (95% CI: 2.71, 19.13). Substituting Q isoenzyme activity for the genotype in the analyses corroborated the findings. Sensitivity analyses suggested that recall bias had forced the estimate of the GxE interaction toward the null and that unmeasured confounding is unlikely to account for the findings. We found a GxE interaction involving the Q-correlated PON1 diazoxonase activity and a weak possible GxE involving the Khamisiyah plume model, but none involving the PON1 R isoenzyme activity, arylesterase activity, paraoxonase activity, butyrylcholinesterase genotypes or enzyme activity, or pyridostigmine. DISCUSSION Given gene-environment independence and monotonicity, the unconfounded aRERI>0 supports a mechanistic interaction. Together with the direct evidence of exposure to fallout from bombing of chemical weapon storage facilities and the extensive toxicologic evidence of biochemical protection from organophosphates by the Q isoenzyme, the findings provide strong evidence for an etiologic role of low-level nerve agent in GWI. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9009.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W. Haley
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Gerald Kramer
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Junhui Xiao
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jill A. Dever
- RTI International, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - John F. Teiber
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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16
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Re DB, Yan B, Calderón-Garcidueñas L, Andrew AS, Tischbein M, Stommel EW. A perspective on persistent toxicants in veterans and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: identifying exposures determining higher ALS risk. J Neurol 2022; 269:2359-2377. [PMID: 34973105 PMCID: PMC9021134 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10928-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Multiple studies indicate that United States veterans have an increased risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to civilians. However, the responsible etiological factors are unknown. In the general population, specific occupational (e.g. truck drivers, airline pilots) and environmental exposures (e.g. metals, pesticides) are associated with an increased ALS risk. As such, the increased prevalence of ALS in veterans strongly suggests that there are exposures experienced by military personnel that are disproportionate to civilians. During service, veterans may encounter numerous neurotoxic exposures (e.g. burn pits, engine exhaust, firing ranges). So far, however, there is a paucity of studies investigating environmental factors contributing to ALS in veterans and even fewer assessing their exposure using biomarkers. Herein, we discuss ALS pathogenesis in relation to a series of persistent neurotoxicants (often emitted as mixtures) including: chemical elements, nanoparticles and lipophilic toxicants such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. We propose these toxicants should be directly measured in veteran central nervous system tissue, where they may have accumulated for decades. Specific toxicants (or mixtures thereof) may accelerate ALS development following a multistep hypothesis or act synergistically with other service-linked exposures (e.g. head trauma/concussions). Such possibilities could explain the lower age of onset observed in veterans compared to civilians. Identifying high-risk exposures within vulnerable populations is key to understanding ALS etiopathogenesis and is urgently needed to act upon modifiable risk factors for military personnel who deserve enhanced protection during their years of service, not only for their short-term, but also long-term health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane B Re
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Beizhan Yan
- Department of Geochemistry, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA
| | - Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas
- Department Biomedical Sciences, College of Health, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
- Universidad del Valle de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Angeline S Andrew
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Maeve Tischbein
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Elijah W Stommel
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
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17
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Andersen MHG, Saber AT, Frederiksen M, Clausen PA, Sejbaek CS, Hemmingsen CH, Ebbehøj NE, Catalán J, Aimonen K, Koivisto J, Loft S, Møller P, Vogel U. Occupational exposure and markers of genetic damage, systemic inflammation and lung function: a Danish cross-sectional study among air force personnel. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17998. [PMID: 34504215 PMCID: PMC8429754 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97382-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Air force ground crew personnel are potentially exposed to fuels and lubricants, as raw materials, vapours and combustion exhaust emissions, during operation and maintenance of aircrafts. This study investigated exposure levels and biomarkers of effects for employees at a Danish air force military base. We enrolled self-reported healthy and non-smoking employees (n = 79) and grouped them by exposure based on job function, considered to be potentially exposed (aircraft engineers, crew chiefs, fuel operators and munition specialists) or as reference group with minimal occupational exposure (avionics and office workers). We measured exposure levels to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) by silicone bands and skin wipes (PAHs only) as well as urinary excretion of PAH metabolites (OH-PAHs). Additionally, we assessed exposure levels of ultrafine particles (UFPs) in the breathing zone for specific job functions. As biomarkers of effect, we assessed lung function, plasma levels of acute phase inflammatory markers, and genetic damage levels in peripheral blood cells. Exposure levels of total PAHs, OPEs and OH-PAHs did not differ between exposure groups or job functions, with low correlations between PAHs in different matrices. Among the measured job functions, the UFP levels were higher for the crew chiefs. The exposure level of the PAH fluorene was significantly higher for the exposed group than the reference group (15.9 ± 23.7 ng/g per 24 h vs 5.28 ± 7.87 ng/g per 24 h, p = 0.007), as was the OPE triphenyl phosphate (305 ± 606 vs 19.7 ± 33.8 ng/g per 24 h, p = 0.011). The OPE tris(1,3-dichlor-2-propyl)phosphate had a higher mean in the exposed group (60.7 ± 135 ng/g per 24 h) compared to the reference group (8.89 ± 15.7 ng/g per 24 h) but did not reach significance. No evidence of effects for biomarkers of systemic inflammation, genetic damage or lung function was found. Overall, our biomonitoring study show limited evidence of occupational exposure of air force ground crew personnel to UFPs, PAHs and OPEs. Furthermore, the OH-PAHs and the assessed biomarkers of early biological effects did not differ between exposed and reference groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne Thoustrup Saber
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Marie Frederiksen
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Per Axel Clausen
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Camilla Sandal Sejbaek
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Caroline Hallas Hemmingsen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark
| | - Niels E Ebbehøj
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark
| | - Julia Catalán
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40, 00032, Työterveyslaitos, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Kukka Aimonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40, 00032, Työterveyslaitos, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joonas Koivisto
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.,ARCHE Consulting, Liefkensstraat 35D, 9032, Wondelgem, Belgium
| | - Steffen Loft
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Peter Møller
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Ulla Vogel
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. .,Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
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18
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Selley L, Lammers A, Le Guennec A, Pirhadi M, Sioutas C, Janssen N, Maitland-van der Zee AH, Mudway I, Cassee F. Alterations to the urinary metabolome following semi-controlled short exposures to ultrafine particles at a major airport. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 237:113803. [PMID: 34517159 PMCID: PMC8504201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammation, oxidative stress and reduced cardiopulmonary function following exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) from airports has been reported but the biological pathways underlying these toxicological endpoints remain to be explored. Urinary metabolomics offers a robust method by which changes in cellular pathway activity can be characterised following environmental exposures. OBJECTIVE We assessed the impact of short-term exposures to UFP from different sources at a major airport on the human urinary metabolome. METHODS 21 healthy, non-smoking volunteers (aged 19-27 years) were repeatedly (2-5 visits) exposed for 5h to ambient air at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, while performing intermittent, moderate exercise. Pre- to-post exposure changes in urinary metabolite concentrations were assessed via 1H NMR spectroscopy and related to total and source-specific particle number concentrations (PNC) using linear mixed effects models. RESULTS Total PNC at the exposure site was on average, 53,500 particles/cm3 (range 10,500-173,200) and associated with significant reductions in urinary taurine (-0.262 AU, 95% CI: -0.507 to -0.020) and dimethylamine concentrations (-0.021 AU, 95% CI: -0.040 to -0.067). Aviation UFP exposure accounted for these changes, with the reductions in taurine and dimethylamine associating with UFP produced during both aircraft landing and take-off. Significant reductions in pyroglutamate concentration were also associated with aviation UFP specifically, (-0.005 AU, 95% CI: -0.010 - <0.000) again, with contributions from both landing and take-off UFP exposure. While non-aviation UFPs induced small changes to the urinary metabolome, their effects did not significantly impact the overall response to airport UFP exposure. DISCUSSION Following short-term exposures at a major airport, aviation-related UFP caused the greatest changes to the urinary metabolome. These were consistent with a heightened antioxidant response and altered nitric oxide synthesis. Although some of these responses could be adaptive, they appeared after short-term exposures in healthy adults. Further study is required to determine whether long-term exposures induce injurious effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Selley
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Ariana Lammers
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Adrien Le Guennec
- Randall Centre of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Milad Pirhadi
- University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Constantinos Sioutas
- University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nicole Janssen
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Anke H Maitland-van der Zee
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ian Mudway
- Environmental Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, School of Publuc Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; National Institute of Health Research, Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental and Health, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Flemming Cassee
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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19
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Bendtsen KM, Bengtsen E, Saber AT, Vogel U. Correction to: A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports. Environ Health 2021; 20:20. [PMID: 33771174 PMCID: PMC7905568 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00705-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja M Bendtsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Elizabeth Bengtsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne T Saber
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulla Vogel
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
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20
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Riley K, Cook R, Carr E, Manning B. A Systematic Review of The Impact of Commercial Aircraft Activity on Air Quality Near Airports. CITY AND ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS 2021; 11:10.1016/j.cacint.2021.100066. [PMID: 34327317 PMCID: PMC8318113 DOI: 10.1016/j.cacint.2021.100066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Commercial airport activity can adversely impact air quality in the vicinity of airports, and millions of people live close to major airports in the United States. Because of these potential impacts, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify peer reviewed literature on air quality near commercial airports and assess the quality of the studies. The systematic review included reference database searches in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, inclusive of years 2000 through 2020. We identified 3,301 articles, and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria developed, seventy studies were identified for extraction and evaluation using a combination of supervised machine learning and manual screening techniques. These studies consistently showed that ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) is elevated in and around airports. Furthermore, many studies show elevated levels of particulate matter under 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), black carbon, criteria pollutants, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as well. Finally, the systematic review, while not focused on health effects, identified a limited number of on-topic references reporting adverse health effects impacts, including increased rates of premature death, pre-term births, decreased lung function, oxidative DNA damage and childhood leukemia. More research is needed linking particle size distributions to specific airport activities, and proximity to airports, characterizing relationships between different pollutants, evaluating long-term impacts, and improving our understanding of health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karie Riley
- ICF Incorporated, L.L.C., 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031-1207, U. S. A
| | - Rich Cook
- U. S. EPA, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, U. S. A
| | - Edward Carr
- ICF Incorporated, L.L.C., 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031-1207, U. S. A
| | - Bryan Manning
- U. S. EPA, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, U. S. A
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